Oshkosh, Wisconsin – the home of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA). The last time David and I were there, it was 34 years ago, shortly after I obtained my MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee; followed by a private pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) at the Timmerman Airport Flight School.
I was offered a job from Chrysler in April 1984. The company’s expectation was for me to start working in Detroit, Michigan that same month. I asked if I could start in August instead, so that I could attend the Air Show in Oshkosh before leaving Wisconsin. Thankfully, my wish was granted. Because of the expected congestion in the sky, and especially because I was a brand-new pilot, rather than fly in, I was advised to drive to Oshkosh from Milwaukee. I obliged.
At the Willow Run hanger before departure.
This year, on July 23, we were able to fly into Oshkosh in a C-47D military cargo plane that was in use during World War II. We flew from the Yankee Air Museum at Willow Run Airport, Michigan. It was flown by two veteran pilots, Howard Rundell and Randy Hotton, who are also members of the Museum. Albeit not current, as a licensed pilot, I was given an opportunity to get a taste of “flying it” for a bit, next to Randy, the pilot in command for the trip to Oshkosh. C-47 looked more complicated than Cessna 152 and 172.
In co-pilot’s seat; memories flooding back.
Regardless, memories flooded back. For example, I remembered that, because I’m small, to reach the rudder pedals, I needed to have a couple of cushions supporting my back.
Over Lake Michigan.
Approaching Wittman Regional Airport, aka Oshkosh, I’ve never seen such unending row after row afer row of aircrafts! This event is truly a pilots’ dream. Not sure of the exact number but I was told the attendance was well over half-a-million people. Once on the ground, our C-47 was part of the Warbirds Exhibition. During this event, it was renamed as “Hairless Joe” from the Li’l Abner comic strip of the 1930s and 1940s. C-47’s original name was “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” From what I understand, many of the C-47s crashed going over the Himalayas during the CBI Theater (China, Burna, and India) operations during WWII. It makes me wonder if one of these crashes was the basis for the 1937 movie, “Lost Horizon,” in which an imaginary place called Shangrila was depicted.
C-47, newly-renamed as “Hairless Joe,” at the Warbirds Exhibition in Oshkosh 2018.
At EAA fly-in convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
At the fly-in convention, you are surrounded by truly like-minded people, most of whom have passion for flying. You can sit at a picnic table with complete strangers and establish instant rapport with them. This was the kind of life I had envisioned for myself, often mingling with other pilots. Oh, how life has changed since then!
As a starter, in 1984, a whole new life was ahead of me with presumed rewards associated with years of hard work (in my second language, no less) combined with willingness to work even harder than ever on my new job at Chrysler. In hind sight, life was wonderfully normal for 16 years until the market crashed in 2000. You may be wondering why I took the crash so seriously. Well, you see, from
By MH-47G, Heavy Assault Helicopter. Because of my life experiences, I’m a big believer in peace through military stre
the very beginning of our relationship, I never wanted to rely on David financially; or anyone else for that matter.
Fast forward to 2018. To this day, I have the idea that if I cannot afford something, I’m not buying it. Common sense, right? Until such time when our finances are completely back to being under control, I have no time, money, or desire for anything extraneous other than to keep working on our business. I am not depriving myself completely, however, of what I need as a normal human being. Social priorities include family events semi-annually; David’s Air Force reunion annually; and one special event/year maybe, maybe not, organized by the Yankee Air Museum.
Every so often, David says something along the lines of, “You’re working too hard. You need a break.” In contrast, I don’t think that I’m ever working hard enough – and, therefore, have no time for an extended break – because I have yet to see the financial results that I would have expected by now. Never mind that our house burned down in 2008; or that both real-estate and capital markets crashed again the same year, causing no bank to loan any money to anyone. Doing everything possible to remain financially independent is my responsibility, no matter what. For the freedom that I have been able to enjoy as an adult immigrant, I owe everything to this country, to its Founding Fathers, and to those who are keeping alive America’s founding philosophy. America owes me nothing. Going to Oshkosh this year for pleasure was out of the question.
I’m not sure what possessed David, but he had a different idea. One day, he said, “We’re going to Oshkosh.” He went ahead and bought the tickets for two. He has known how much I love to fly. This is how our trip to and from Oshkosh happened this year. I was concerned about taking the time away from work for three full days. But once we were on our way to Willow Run, I decided to simply surrender myself and enjoy it. And I had a blast. David has been an angel my entire adult life. And I am eternally grateful to my best friend for the experience of a life time.
With David, my angel and best friend. Thank you for the experience of a life time, my love!
Postscript:
July 25, 2018, the day we flew back to Willow Run from Oshkosh, we heard the news about the death of Sergio Marchionne, the CEO of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles since 2009. During his reign, I’ve been grateful that my pension payments kept being deposited every month like clockwork. With his death, I can no longer take it for granted. After all, Chrysler has nearly gone bankrupt several times. While I’ve always hoped for the best, his death and uncertainties that invariably come with the sad news are precisely the reasons I’ve never stopped working for myself – so that I would be in a position to not have to be dependent on pension (or Social Security) payments.
